Wael Kfoury talks exclusively to L'Orient-Le Jour. (Credit: the artist's team)
Until last night, up to the last minute, the interview was neither guaranteed nor a foregone conclusion.
Despite being a prominent figure in Lebanese pop culture and one of the region's most celebrated vocalists, skilled in octave transitions, Wael Kfoury has consistently avoided press interviews. Over his thirty-year career, he has released more than twenty albums, each creating a sensation on Middle Eastern and sometimes global charts — with nearly 500 million streams on Anghami alone, a mere digital reflection of his consistently sold-out performances. His elusive nature cultivated the aura of a secretive yet hyper-exposed star, leaving others to sow rumors and mysteries around his persona and personal life.
"It's not out of pretension or fear that I don't speak to the press, but simply because I think that everything about my career has been said. Everything is clear and known. And, everything has become public knowledge. My life is just that — my music. But L’Orient-Le Jour, that's a different story," he said right from the start of the interview he exceptionally agreed to, with a smile that can make his millions of fans swoon.
The star welcomed us into his quiet dressing room, protected by a team of security guards, backstage at the Beirut Forum, where, an hour later, he would perform his second concert of the night for a devoted audience of 6,000.
A popular artist, capable of provoking emotion. (Credit: Wael Kfoury's team)
'Rabna Map': From Zahle to the Heights of Fame
Dressed in a hoodie, black jeans, and sneakers, with an IQOS, a heat-tobacco device, next to him, he acknowledged, "[It] may not the best for my voice, but it's my stress reliever. I've been singing for thirty years, and to this day, every concert, every gala, every party feels like the first time. I can't even begin to explain the fatigue, the stress, the stage fright and sometimes even the frustration. It's like the first day. It's as if I started yesterday." Suddenly, the megastar image peels away, revealing the young boy, who has yet to realize the talent he possesses.
"When I was a child in school, I sang naturally, without calculation. People told me I had a special, beautiful voice. At the time, I didn't understand what that meant. For Independence Day and Mother's Day, they called on me [to sing]... [and] for certain celebrations. That's when I realized the gift I had and decided to nurture it." He continued, "I began to truly open my eyes to the artists of the time, watching their movements on TV, being moved by their music. That's when I grasped the impact an artist or even a song could have on people — the bond forged between an artist and their audience. That's why I decided to succeed and become a star — a popular artist capable of evoking emotion, creating a song or a melody where people find themselves and say: 'Ah, that's me, that speaks to me.'"
The most touching moment comes when this star, unaccustomed to speaking with journalists, begins to open up, slowly revealing his true self, admitting, "The journey hasn't been all rosy or easy. I was born and raised in Zahle," he stated. "After the civil war, not much was happening in my hometown, and I had to go to Beirut to achieve my dream. Every day I had to take three to four cabs to get to college in Kaslik. Then, there was Studio al-Fan, which I won in 1992, opening doors for me. The rest I entrusted to God. Just as there is Google Maps, for me it was 'Rabna Maps' (our God Maps, in English) that put me on the right path."
Wael Kfoury, the "king of romance" (Credit: Wael Kfoury's team)
Throughout his career, several songs have become ingrained in local and regional collective memory, including "al-Bint al-Awiyyeh," "al-Waet Hadiyeh," "Se al-Kol," "Hekem al-Qalb," "Law Hobna Ghalta," "Qalbi Mushtaq," "Kelna Mnenjar," "La Akher Dakka," "Omri Kelo," and "Khudni Laik." It's songs like these that earned him the title, the "king of romance."
His voice, with its undeniable power of honey and velvet, is captivating. Additionally, the slightest bat of his eyelashes transforms this star into an object of adoration that transcends musical and generational boundaries. He started shining alongside Ragheb, Assi, and Melhem, and here he is, thirty years later, outshining his so-called "spiritual sons."
Kfoury added, "Behind what the public sees, it has never been idleness and rose-tinted life for me. With every album release and every tour, the public expects more from me. The responsibility becomes greater. Over time, I realized that the more you succeed, the more tired you get. That's the rule of the game in this profession.”
An Unmatched Love for Lebanon
"At no point have I ever given up. And I think it's all because of God. When God gives you a gift, he gives you a force that drives you. At least that's been my experience. Every time a difficulty or problem arose, things would resolve, like magic. Beyond that, I had to put in my effort too. In other words, that means perseverance, resilience, and, of course, taking responsibility."
Listening to him, it's striking that a star of his stature continues to doubt and question himself, taking fame with a pinch of salt and balancing notoriety with authenticity. This humility stands out in an era when less talented singers consider themselves major stars.
"In all humility, I think I've reached a stage in my career where I'm both aware of what I've accomplished and clear that the public expects more and better from me. I don't allow myself to make mistakes," he asserted.
When asked how he feels today, he responds, "I haven't realized my dream yet. I don't know if I ever will, or if I have and just don't realize it." However, he explained what keeps him motivated: "My life is all about my work. I canceled my social life, outings and [personal] parties years ago. Without that, I don't think would have succeeded. When I'm not on stage, I'm locked at home or in the studio, preparing for the stage. When I'm not working, I think about my work and my music. And when I sleep, I dream about it. It's something I live with constantly. I don't have nothing else because, in my opinion, if I lose that, meaning my musical career and connection with the public, I'd lose everything."
Kfoury remains aware of this solid yet double-edged fame, admitting that what he misses most today "is everything I can no longer do, like leading a normal life with my family and friends. I miss all that, especially since the rise of social media, where celebrities are tracked and scrutinized to the millimeter. I can't even go for lunch or dinner with my daughter spontaneously and away from prying eyes."
Throughout his journey from his village of Zahle to global charts and stages, one constant in Kfoury's life has been his deep connection to his roots and his immense love for Lebanon. This commitment was evident when he opened his concerts on July 27 and 28 with a new song, "Ya Malak Toll," in which he expressed his love for Lebanon from north to south. He added, "Especially the South, which resists relentlessly with dignity.In fact, if I had to express my love and attachment to this country, I'd sum it up like this: I only have one passport, the Lebanese one. I've been offered many passports, but I've always refused. I own no property outside this country, and I will never leave it. Whatever happens."
He continued, "Lebanon means everything to me. Since I was born in 1974, not a year has passed without [the country] being torn apart in one of its corners. Our life has always been like this. So all I'm doing, particularly through these two concerts and this song, which are taking place in an extremely difficult context and atmosphere, is trying, in my own way, to plant a smile in the heavy hearts of my people, my public, who are my great Lebanese family. It's my way of uniting people. We're only five million, and we still manage to agree on nothing. This song was my wish to unite the public around one thing: Love for our country, which has never been at its lowest ebb.”
Regardless of the situation in Lebanon, especially during these uncertain times, the songs and voice of Wael Kfoury will remain a constant. He will forever be a defining voice of Lebanon.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour
